Abstract In this interview, Faith Wheeler discusses how she came to live in DC and what attracted her to Takoma – specifically that it was a mostly Black, integrated, and friendly community where the neighbors looked out for one another. She talks about some of her longtime neighbors and the work of Neighbors, Inc., which she became involved with. She discusses her daughter’s schooling and the decision to send her to Sidwell Friends rather than Takoma Elementary School. She comments on her daughter’s...

Abstract In this interview, Faith Wheeler discusses how she came to live in DC and what attracted her to Takoma – specifically that it was a mostly Black, integrated, and friendly community where the neighbors looked out for one another. She talks about some of her longtime neighbors and the work of Neighbors, Inc., which she became involved with. She discusses her daughter’s schooling and the decision to send her to Sidwell Friends rather than Takoma Elementary School. She comments on her daughter’s...

Abstract

Single article on the Georgetown Neighborhood Library Banned Books Week event in October, 2023

Scope and Contents

José Diaz discusses moving to the US at age 15, his recovery from polio, Mount Pleasant in the 1980s, tensions between latino and african-american youth, the Mount Pleasant riot, and community-police relations.

Scope and Contents

José Sueiro discusses his studies at GW university, his move to Panama, his return to DC, his start in the newspaper industry and work at El Latino, DC police's lack of experience with latino youth, his memories of the Mount Pleasant riot, and Mayor Barry's close relationship to the latino community in DC.

Scope and Contents

Laverne Hedrick discusses growing up in Greensboro, North Carolina; her time in Southeast Washington, D.C.; and her community engagement in Kenilworth.

Abstract In this interview, Lewis Maiden discusses what Petworth was like when his family first moved there, when many of his neighbors and schoolmates were Italians. He talks about the various neighbors and local businesses he has known over the years since moving back to Petworth in 1971, including a former People’s Drug at Georgia and New Hampshire avenues that temporarily became a boxing club and youth community center. He talks about what he did for fun both as a teenager and as an adult,...

Abstract In this interview, Marietta discusses her childhood and her years as a young woman, when she lived in her family’s Le Droit Park home while attending Howard University. She also discusses her move to Petworth in 1950 with her husband and daughter Linda. She talks about what the neighborhood was like when they first moved there, before most of the white families moved away, and in later years when she was a member of the Block Club, which met monthly. She and Linda comment on how the...

Scope and Contents

Ryan Pierce discusses moving to Washington, DC; his educational background and work related to historic preservation; the history and architecture of Southwest; his involvement with the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly (SWNA) and its History Task Force; redevelopment and gentrification in the area, as well as residents’ input and responses to these changes; and his thoughts on the future of the neighborhood.

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

D.C. Oral History Collaborative (DCOHC) is a citywide initiative to train community members in oral history skills, fund new and ongoing oral history projects, connect volunteers with oral history projects, and publicize existing oral history collections. DCOHC is a project of DC Public Library, HumanitiesDC, and the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. This collection contains oral history interviews, transcripts, and indexes produced by DCOHC grantees.